All amendments get the thumbs-up in Bexar

Updated 11:50 pm, Tuesday, November 5, 2013

With a few snags along the way, Bexar County voters joined the rest of Texas in approving nine constitutional amendments Tuesday after having to show photo identification at the polls for the first time.

Few retreated without casting ballots, but many encountered slowdowns as they complied with the controversial photo ID law and another requirement that names on voter registration certificates exactly match those on photo IDs.

Only one person left the polls without voting, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said.

The voter refused to produce a photo ID, saying the law was unconstitutional; refused to accept a provisional ballot; and then called 911 to report a civil rights violation, she said.

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Callanen's office reported 31,228 ballots cast during early voting. With 98 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, 25,392 live votes had been counted overwhelmingly in favor of nine statewide constitutional amendments, all of which passed. More than 56,620 voters cast a ballot in Bexar, about 6.4 percent of registered voters.

Overall, the process went smoothly and provided a good warm-up for heavier voting in the March primaries, Callanen said.

A few voters complained of inadequate signage at some polls, relocated polls and other problems, but the most common snag was compliance with the Republican-backed ID requirements that were intended to avert voting fraud.

Those without required documents were allowed to vote provisionally, meaning their vote would be counted later if they produce the document within a week, or they signed affidavits to verify their identity.